Shiva
Shiva is one of my friends from school -- we've been talking since April 2023 and the friendship has stayed strong throughout.
How We Connected
Shiva and I became friends during our school years. He's one of the people who was part of my daily school life -- classes, breaks, all the regular stuff that adds up to a real friendship.
Supporting LockIn
One of the things I really appreciate about Shiva is how he reacted when I was working on LockIn. He didn't just say "oh cool app" -- he literally said "I can tell my friends to download it if u want." That's HUGE. When you're building something and someone offers to actually spread the word to their own network, that's a different level of support. Most people just say "nice" and move on. Shiva wanted to actively help, and that meant a lot.
That willingness to put his own social capital behind something I built -- without me even asking -- says everything about who Shiva is as a friend.
Tech Stuff
Shiva's into tech which is always fun. He had a MacBook at one point ("I have a macbook") and then apparently sold it ("I sold it") which is a whole journey lol. We could nerd out about tech stuff together, which is nice because not all my friends are into that. Having someone who actually understands what you're talking about when you mention apps and coding and devices makes the conversation way more interesting. It's one of those things where you don't realize how much you needed a friend who speaks the same language until you find one.
School Days
There was this one time Shiva messaged something like "we might not have schools on Monday" and honestly is there any better text to receive? That feeling when there's a rumor about a day off and you're just waiting to find out if it's real -- that's peak school experience. Moments like that remind me of how school felt. It was this tight community where rumors spread fast and everyone was always hoping for unexpected holidays.
What He Means to Me
Shiva is the friend who actually shows up. Not just in person, but in effort. Offering to promote your app, being there consistently, staying connected. He represents the best of what school friendships are about -- genuine, supportive, and lasting beyond just the school walls.